Deep well pumper



Oct. 28, 1947. H. E. ROSE DEEP WELL PUMPER Filed Feb. 28, 1944 Patented Oct. 28, 1947 DEEP WELL ruMrEa Howard E. Rose, Peninsula, Ohio; assignor to Alco Valve Company, University City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri A Application February 2.8, 1944,-Serlal No. 524,196

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a deep well pumper, and more particularly to a pump construction especially happlicable, to a deep well.

although obviously applicable to other pumping uses.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved pump operateii without -moving mechanical connections extending from the surface 'to the bottom of the well. A particular object is to provide such a pump in which the column of liquid above a pumping unit at the bottom of the well actuates the pump' on one stroke, and a column of the oil, to which pressure is applied, actuates the pump on the other stroke.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pump of the foregoing type in which a mechanical pump is used to apply force to a column of liquid running from the surface to the pumping element, but with the force generating parts of the pumping mechanism separated-from the column to which pressure is applied.

In the drawing: I

Fig. 1- is an elevation partly broken away and partly in section of the entire mechanism at the surface and in the well;

Fig. 2 is a. fragmentary section of the surface pumping units; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical medial section of the pumping element at the bottom of the well.

While the present invention isobviously of broader aspect, it will be described in connection with pumping of oil.-

Broadly speaking, the mechanism comprises a pumping unit i disposed near the bottom of a well II into which the usual well string I2 has been placed. The mechanism also includes a The pump element Il), shown in detail in Fig. 3,'

fits within the sleeve I2, and adjacent its lower part has a flange 20 making a seal with the inner surface of the string to separate the liquid in the well from that pumped into the string I2. The

slides within the upper cylinder 22.y -Below the piston portion 24 is a lower plunger portion 26 which reciprocates within .the lowercylindrical portion 2l, but is smaller than the inside di `ameter of this portion 2|.

The lower plunger portion 26 operates through an opening in the bottom of the member III.

The plunger 23 has a passage 28 extending fr om the bottom to the top thereof This passage opens at .its bottom into the well to receive oil therein. At its upper part, a check valve 23 is provided to prevent back now of oil downwardly through the' passage 28; The ball 23 is suitably retained within an enlarged space at the top of the plunger vportion 25 so that it will permit upward ow of oil through the passage 28, but prevent the downward flow therethrough. There is here shown a 3I leading through the top thereof. The passage 3| has an enlarged space receiving a ball check vvalve 32. This ball check valve seats at the bottom of the enlargement to prevent downward flow of oil therethrough, and engages with a. retaining means 33 having an irregular opening therethrough, when forced upwardly in such wise as to permit ilow of oil therearound.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the.

pump mechanism may be considered to include a bottom cylinder 35 beneath the piston 24, a middle cylinder 36 above the piston 24, and an upper cylinder 31 above the top of the smaller upper plunger portion 25. It will be'seen also that the cross sectional area of the cylinder 36v is larger than that of the cylinder 35, because the lower plunger portion 26 is larger than 'the upper plunger portion25. The middle cylinder 36 isin communication with the column of liquid in the string, through a port 36.

pumping unit IB is desirably cylindrical with a lower cylinder 2l and an upper cylinder 22. A plunger. generally indicated at 23, is reciprocable within the pump member I0. It has a piston portion 24 engageable within the lower cylinder 2|. On the upper side of the piston portion 24 a plunger portion 25 is integrally formed, and it A pipe 40 connects into the bottom of the lower cylinder 35 and leads to the surface, and'thence into a pressure cylinder or container 4I of the surface pumping mechanism I4. From the cylinder 4I there extends a connection 42 leading through a ball check valve 43 into a line 44 that connects with the outlet I'I.

A piston 45 reciprocates within the cylinder 4I ldriven in opposite' directions by a conventional mechanism here shown as an air compressor 50,

This mechain the chamber 31 above the small portion 25 of the plunger 23. This causes new oil to be drawn type. This valve I is provided with an oscillating fork 52, the arms of which are adapted t0 be engaged by a projection 53 on a rod 54 attached at opposite ends to links 55 and 58 that are Divoted on a bar 51 and project downwardly therefrom to be engaged by a. lug 58 on the connecting rod 4C. It may be seen that as the piston 41 approaches the end of its stroke in either direction it will cause the lug 58 to engage one or the other of the members 55 and 56 to act upon the fork 52 and reverse the four-way valve.

Operation The pumping unit i8 is lowered to approximately the bottom of the well by being passed down through the string i2. In this disposition, the ilange 2C forms a partition that separates the oil bearing sand. or the like, from the portion of the string above the partition. The only connection to the top of the well is the relatively small pipe 40. 'I'he line i1 is connected into the cap i5 and thereby connects with the string above the partition 2U. Previously pumped oil lls this line I1 and the string down to the partition 28, including the cylinder 3E, and oil also illls the pipe 40 and associated parts. In the original starting it will be necessary to partially fill the line i1 and pipe 40 with water or oil.

When the motor 5t starts, the fluid pumped thereby drives the piston r41, which, through the connecting rod 4'8, moves the operating piston 45 tothe left in Fig. 2. This movement of the piston 45 to the left applies pressure to the oil within the line 40, which is prevented from escape into the discharge line i1 by the check valve 43. This pressure, therefore, is transmitted through the line 4D to the pumping unit il), where it acts in the cylinder 35 beneath the piston 24. The cylinder 35, in the meanwhile. will be filled with oil at a pressure determined by the head of oil thereabove in the string and in the line l1. Consequently, the pressure applied through the line 4I! is made greater than the foregoing headrof oil acting within the cylinder 38. The pressure developed in the cylinder 35 must also take into account the action of the column of oil acting within the chamber 31, as will appear. The force exerted by the oil in the cylinder 35 will lift the plunger 23 against the resisting forces thereon.

As the plunger 23 rises, the piston 24 will expel oil from the cylinders 36 and 31 into the string.

When the power piston 41 reaches the left hand end `rif-its stroke, the lug -58 strike the link 55 and shift the four-way valve 5l to reverse the pressure conditions within the cylinder 48 to cause the piston 41 to move to the right., drawing with it the piston 45. This relieves the pressure within the line 45% to below a point where the upward force on the plunger 23 is less than that exerted downwardly on the plunger 23. Consequently the force of the head of oil acting upon the piston 24 drives itdown. The fact that the cross sectional area of the upper surface of the piston 24 is greater than that of the lower surface of the piston insures that the head of oil in the string force the piston down regardless ofthe fact that the head of oil in the pipe 4U is the same as that within the string.

As the plunger 23 descends, the valve 32 is closed, resulting in a relatively low pressure withfrom the well below the partition 2n, through the passage 28,-and past the valve 28 into the chamber 31.-

When the piston 41 reaches the right end of its stroke, the lug 58 strikes the link 56 to shift' the four-way valve 5I and reverse the pressure condition within the cylinder 48 so that the two pistons 41 and 45 again move to the left. This elevates the plunger 23 again by the fact that the net force acting beneath the piston exceeds Y must be great enough to produce a force that uid system, a pumping unit including an oppov overcomes not only the force exerted within the cylinder 36, but also the force exerted within the chamber 31.

Upon the subsequent relief of the pressure within the pipe 40 by shifting of the pressure applying piston stroke, the plunger 23 descends but the check valve 32 prevents oil from the string from entering the chamber 3l. Consequently the force acting beneath the piston 24 must be relieved to such a point that the pressure acting within the chamber 36 will vproduce a force that will cause the piston to descend;

The pipe 40 is always kept charged with oil by its connection with the line l1. The charging is by gravity, plus the fact that the plunger 46, when moving to the right, produces a low pressure condition that, when it goes below the resistance of the valve 43, will cause that valve to open to recharge this line.

It will` be seen that this pumping mechanism provides a device that requires only a single connection with the bottom of the well; that that connection is nota moving part; and that the connection may be relatively simple. Further, the pump unit itself has a. minimum number of moving parts, and requires a.' minimum of space. The power mechanism is simplified, and is arranged so that the dirty oil from the well is kept; away vfrom the parts where wear is most critical.

What is claimed is:

l. In a pumping mechanism for pumping liquid from a supply to a system under pressure, means separating the liquid supply from the liqsitely movable piston means, means to draw liquid from the supply and to discharge it into the system upon movement of the piston means, one side of the piston means being at all times open to the liquid in the system to receivev azfvorce to displace the piston means in one direction, and means alternately to apply and to withdraw a di'ilerent fluid pressure'force to the `opposite side of the piston means, said force applying means being adapted to producers. force greater Ithan the opposite force produced by the liquid in the system, and then to withdraw tc a force less than that produced by the liquid in thesystem, said force applying means comprising a. liquid conduit opening into the space on the said opposite side of the piston means, the eiective area of said other side being less than the corresponding-area of said one side, pressure prcducing'means adapted to apply increased pressure to the liquid in the conduit and then toreduce the same, .said

4prt-,usure producing means comprising a container into which 'the conduitv is connected, a plunger operable oppositely in the container to increase.

and decrease the eilective size thereof, and means to drive the plunger back and forth.v 2. In a pumping mechanism for pumping liquid from a supply to a system under pressure,-

means separating the liquid supply fromthe liquid system, a pumping unit including an oppositely movable piston means, means to draw liquid from the supply and to discharge it into the system upon movement of the piston means, one.

side of the piston means being exposed to the liquid in the system to receive a force to displace the piston means in one direction, and means alternately to apply and to withdraw a different fluidfpressure force to the opposite side of the piston means, said force applying means being adapted toproduce a force greater than the opposite force produced by the liquid in the system, and then to withdraw to a force less than that produced by the liquid in the system, said force applying means comprising a liquid conduit opening into the space on the said opposite side of the piston means, pressure producing means adapted to apply increasedv pressure to the liquid in the conduit and then to reduce the same, said pressure producing means comprising a container into which the conduit is connected, a plunger operable oppositely inthe container to .increase and decrease the effective size thereof, means to drive the plunger back and forth, sai'd container also being connected into the system, and check means to permit ilow of liquid from the system into the container but not from the container into the system.

3. In a pumping mechanism for pumping liquid from a supply to a system under pressure, means separating the liquid supply from the liquid system, a pumping unit including an oppositely movable piston means, means to draw liq- 'uid from the supply and-to discharge it into the system upon movement of the piston means, one side of the piston means being exposed to the liquid in the system to receive a force to disv place the piston means in one direction, and means alternately to apply and to withdraw aV different fluid pressure force to the opposite side of the Vpiston means, said force applying means being adapted to produce a force greater than the opposite force produced by the liquid in the system, and then to withdraw to a force less than that produced by the liquid in Vthe system. said force applying means comprising a liquid conduit opening into the space onthe said opposite side of the piston means, pressure producing means adapted to apply increased pressure to the liquid in the conduit and then to reduce the same, said pressure producing means comprising a container into which the conduit is connected, a plunger operable oppositely in the container to increase and decrease the effective size thereof, and means to drive the plunger back and forth, comprising a separate uid driven motive means having its own separate fluid system, and a member driven thereby, andv means to .connect the driven member with the plunger.

4. In a pumping mechanism for pumping liquid from a supply into a column having a vertical component, means separating the liquid sup- 'line extending upwardly to produce a-predetermined pressure head therein, thel area of the piston means on the column side being related to the area on the liquid line side so that the force produced by the column on the piston means is greater than that produced by the line liquid, means intermittently to increase the pressure of the line liquid to produce a force on the piston means greater than that produced by the column, whereby the piston means may be oppositely operated, and pump means operated by the piston means to draw liquid from the supply and expel it into the column.

5.l In a pumping mechanism for use in a well to pump liquid from the well into a line, a pump-` ing means adapted to extend into the liquid within the well, partitionmeans separating the liquid in the well from the liquid discharged by the pumping means, said pumping means including a piston receiving the liquid pressure from the column of liquid between the-surface and the piston, a plunger connected with the piston, said pumping means including a cylinder within which said plunger operates, said cylinder being connected to the well beneath the partition, check means tov permit liquid to enter the cylinder through said connection but to prevent expulsion of liquid therethrough, an additional connection from the cylinder to the well above the partition, check means to permit liquid to be expelled from the-J cylinder through said additional connection but to prevent back now into the cylinder, a liquid pressure line connected from the surface to introduce iiuid against the piston opposite to the pressure above the partition, and means alternately to supply pressure to the lastnamed liquid and to relieve the said pressure.

6. Inl a pumping mechanism for use in pumping liquid from a supply to a line under pressure, means separating the supply from the liquid under pressure, a pumping unit including reversible piston means to withdraw liquid from the supply and expel it into the line, said piston means being adapted to receive liquid under line pressure for moving the same in one direction, and being adaptedlto receive liquid under pressure to move the same in the other direction, the piston means having a greater pressure receiving area subjected to they lin'e pressure than to the second pressure, means to alternatelyincrease and decrease the second pressure so that its force ply from the column, a pumping unit below the Y top of the column and having oppositely movable piston means subjected to the pressure of the column on one side, a liquid line connected to acting upon the piston means will drive the piston means. against the force produced by the line pressure, said pressure alternate means comprising a container connected to the'piston means, a plunger operable into or out of the container, and separate means for driving the plunger, the container also being connected to the line, and a check valve to permit liquid to be withdrawn from the line but to prevent liquid from being expelled by the plunger into the line.

7. In a pumping mechanism for pumping liquid from a supply to a system under pressure. means separating the liquid supply from the liquid in the system, a pumping cylinder, a piston ytherein,\the cylinder having opposite ilrst and pressure line, said line being constantly connected tothe second pressure chamber, whereby when uid pressure 'applied through the pressure line, acting on the area or the second side or the piston, produces a force greater than that of the system pressure acting on the :Erst side o1' the piston, the pieton will be moved, and when the said uld pressure produces a. force less than that produced by the system pressure, the piston -may be actuated in the opposite direction by the system pressure. the area. of the opposite sides of the pistons being different, so that when the unit iluld pressure and unit system pressure have less than a. predetermined dinerential, the piston will be moved inone direction.

HOWARD E.' Ross. l

umass errno The following reference are of record in the me o! this patent:

UNITED STTES PATENTS Number Number (Addition t0 N0. 550,678) 

